Can Manchester United become the first team to win the European Cup in consecutive seasons since the Milan side I played in 19 years ago? Of course, but it will depend on small details.

Back then it was no coincidence that Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and I all played at Milan together. For the first season in 1987 it was just Marco and I. We asked Arrigo Sacchi, the coach, to sign Frank too because we knew he was the key factor needed in the midfield. Suddenly we had three Dutch players and it became easier.

Marco, Frank and I had won the 1988 European Championship with Holland. There was not really a similarity in style between that side and Milan, but when we joined the Italian league was defensive while we were more attacking so we made a good mix of defence and attack. And Silvio Berlusconi, the owner, had a goal: he wanted to make Milan the greatest team of all time. That put so much pressure on us.

The first year when you win the European Cup it's all new, like a fairy tale. In 1989 we were obviously very, very happy, especially after beating our main rivals, Real Madrid, 5-0 in the second leg of the semi-final – that was a really good boost, a sign we were on the right track.

And the following season all of a sudden you realise what it means, and it all becomes different, much more calculated. Sir Alex Ferguson's side will have felt the same as they have been trying to retain the Cup. You're more experienced, and teams are more focused on what you do. It seems they try harder to overcome you by playing defensively rather than the previous year when they attempted to beat you by attacking, as its easier to demolish a house than build one. It's not that for Milan the opposition would target Marco van Basten or me or whoever personally. It was a tactical thing. The same as Chelsea did to Barcelona in this year's semi-final.

It was reflected in the scores of our two finals. In 1989 we beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0. The following season, against a Benfica team coached by Sven-Goran Eriksson, it was only 1-0.

Has any team since been good enough to win two in a row since Milan? Sure. Milan could have done it again in '94 and '95, then Ajax (beating Milan in '95, runners-up in 96) and Juventus (beating Ajax in '96 and runners-up in '97) have come closest. But it is probably harder now to do it because of various changes.

In 1992 when it became the Champions League the group stages made it more difficult – and a little later caused the squad rotation system, where more players are needed. Back then, too, there was also the three foreign player rule, which was ended for 1996-97 onwards by the Bosman ruling.

And nowadays, at the top end of the competition, because there are many teams from the same country competing, differences have become minimal. Who wins depends, as I mentioned, on tiny details. You know, John Terry slips in the penalty shoot-out last year and Manchester United win the final. Or this year Barcelona beat Chelsea in the last minute of the semi-final.

The final in Rome on Wednesday will be the same. There is so much quality on the pitch. Of course teamwork and tactics are important, but it is the individuals who will make the greatest difference. That's why we are all looking forward to what will be a fascinating game. Think of Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney – even Ryan Giggs, who is still going strong. There is so much to love about this game.

These are two teams with strong characters, and there is a possibility that they might actually cancel themselves out: we will have to wait and see. One thing I hope for is no extra time – unless it follows a 2-2 draw. A 0-0 between these two would be very disappointing for the spectator.

But if it is 2-2, I will love it. And if the teams are forced to play extra time then maybe United's experience from Moscow will help. In this period of a game you have to consolidate your strengths, manage yourself, otherwise you can tire easily and then in the second half will be unable to do anything.

One thing is for sure: I would not like to bet on either team. As I will be in the Stadio Olimpico my only hope is to enjoy the ride, the journey, what is about to happen. I want to be excited by it all, have that feeling later on which makes you say: "I was there!"

May the best team win. If United are to do it, and become the first to win the Champions League two years in a row, they must have the feeling that it is possible, that they can do it. But they know it will be more difficult this time.

■ Ruud Gullit is a studio expert in Rome for Sky Sports' high definition coverage of the Champions League final from 6pm on Sky Sports HD1 this Wednesday, 27 May